Glacier monitoring: BGS observatory at Virkisjökull, Iceland

BGS international work

The BGS operate an observatory site at Virkisjökull in south-east Iceland, studying the evolution of the glacier and the surrounding landscape and their responses to regional climate.

Sensors at the site are constantly collecting climate and seismic data. Repeated high resolution surveys study how both the glacier and land surface, and the deposits beneath, change over time.

We are using cutting-edge technologies, not used in such a combination anywhere else in the world. These give unique insights into:

processes of landscape formation

responses of glacial systems to climate forcing

March 2015

The March 2015 field season saw a team consisting of BGS and GSNI staff, plus staff and MSc and MRes students from Dundee and Lancaster Universities, in Iceland for 10 days with a huge range of research activities to complete. You can see excellent aerial videos and updates on their Hydrometric monitoring of the River Virkisá webpage and blog.

December 2014

Whilst Heiko Buxel and Hugh Barron were carrying out "routine" tasks for the Glacier Monitoring Project - including seismic data downloads, meltwater sampling, camera installation and general maintenance - they experienced conditions far from routine! Read about working in subzero temperatures and 70mph winds in their blog: "Weather Bombed in Iceland".